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How possible Rangers target Alex Tuch upped free-agent value
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- How possible Rangers target Alex Tuch upped free-agent value
Alex Tuch likely is very much on the New York Rangers radar already. But even if so, the Buffalo Sabres ' pending unrestricted free agent put forth an eye-opening performance Sunday sure to catch the attention of Rangers decision makers.
Tuch was an absolute force helping the Sabres escape a 2-0 hole in the third period to defeat the Boston Bruins 4-3 in Game 1 of their best-of-7 first-round playoff series. He led a ferocious Buffalo forecheck, winning one puck battle after another, including one behind the Boston net which set up Tage Thmpson's game-tying goal at 15:44 of the third.
Using his 6-foot-4, 219-pound frame like a human wrecking ball, Tuch topped all skaters with 10 hits, setting the tone for the Sabres, who played an extremely physical game and out-hit the Bruins 53-38. Playing on the top line and both specialty teams, Tuch led Buffalo forwards with 21:40 TOI, scored an empty-net goal, and had a two-point night.
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Think Tuch wouldn't look pretty darn good in the Blueshirt, skating next to. say, Will Cuylle and J.T. Miller ? Or Vincent Trocheck , if the Rangers hang on to the veteran center?
He's big skilled, and productive. Tuch scored 33 goals this season, has 30 or more three of the past four years, and 200 in 615 NHL games with the Minnesota Wild , Vegas Golden Knights , and Sabres. He's a dedicated two-way player, one who learned the importance of strong defensive play as a middle-six forward with the Golden Knights, before graduating to top-line duty with the Sabres, who acquired him in the Jack Eichel trade back on Nov. 4, 2021.
Tuch blocked 90 shots this season — that's quite a few for a forward — and scored three short-handed goals. He and Trocheck tied for the NHL lead with six shorties in 2024-25.
Then there's his playoff experience, helping the Golden Knights reach the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season in 2017-18, and third round of the postseason twice more before he was traded. Now, he's a key part of the Buffalo engine, helping the Sabres finish first in the Atlantic Division this season, ending a 14-year playoff drought.
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He's got stones, as they say. You better believe Chris Drury and Mike Sullivan are well aware of all Tuch could bring to the Rangers lineup.
Rangers must weigh pros, cons if seriously interested in free agent Alex Tuch
Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Of course, the Rangers aren't the only team doing its due diligence on Tuch and watching him closely in these playoffs. He is after all widely regarded as the top forward available in free agency, after Connor McDavid , Kirill Kaprizov , Kyle Connor , Artemi Panarin , and Eichel — among others — re-signed with their current teams.
The diluted 2026 UFA class is not nearly as sexy as it once looked. So, Tuch should cash in, and land a major raise on his current $4.75 million salary. Considering the state of the Rangers, who finished last in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs a second straight year, it's unlikely they want to overpay for Tuch, especially since he'll turn 30 next month.
The Rangers already have a trove of 30-somethings at the forward position — Mika Zibanejad , Miller, and Trocheck will all be 33 next season. Drury stated in January his desire to retool the Rangers with younger NHL talent, and NHL-ready prospects. That's what the Rangers seek in a possible Trocheck trade, and why 20-year-old Liam Greentree was the key return from the Los Angeles Kings in the Panarin trade two months ago.
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Despite New York's scoring woes this season — they were shut out 10 times, tying a franchise record — Sullivan told reporters that he thinks the Rangers need to add another puck-moving defenseman and could bolster their bottom-six group of forwards, to take some of the heat of the top six. He seemdd to believe the Rangers are in a good spot with their top-six group of forwards.
Drury, the general manager, agreed with his coach afterward, when he said, "I thought those were two good comments by him and two specific areas."
However, the GM did add, "We're always looking at tweaking and looking at ways to get more scoring. Not relying on one person — spreading out the scoring — is always a good way to look at things, and we had some success that way down the stretch."
As for Tuch, he's a Syracuse native, so remaining with the Sabres — especially at this exciting time of their journey — could be a priority. But an extension didn't happen yet, and the closer Tuch gets to free agency, the more likely it becomes that he's a goner.
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The Rangers will pay close attention.
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